Tractor-frame suspension



E.. E. WICKESHAM TRACTOR FRAME SUSPENSION 2 SheeLs-Shee". l

,Filed sept. 29, i919 www @UNM

' 551 Mmfwfa@ ATTORNEYS TRACTOR FRAME SUSPENS ION Filed Sept. 29, 1919 2 Skeeter-Sheet 2 @uuummmn Eff /wmdww y TTORNE YS Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

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ILMER E. WICKERSHAM, F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE HOLT MANU- FCTURING- COMPANY, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F (TALI- norman.

TRACTOR-FRAME SUSPENSION.

Application med september 29, im.4 serial iro. 327,286.

To a!! r11/1,0m if 'may concern.'

Be it'hhown that I, ELMER E. rloiimv sHAM, citizen of the United States, residing at Stlockton, in the county of San Joa- 6 quin and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tractor- Frame Suspensions, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionv relates to tractors of the l0 chain' track type, and more particularly to suspension mea-ns for the mainframe.

In my prior application, Serial No. 314- 205, liled July 30th, 1919, I show and de scribe means for supporting the entire weight ofthe main frame at a single point on eac'h of the truck mechanisms. The present-application relates to the same general system of suspension wherein I have adapted this system of suspension to an articulated truck mechanism and'also substituted i aspring bar for the rigidaxle of the prior device.

Referring to they accompanying' drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of 'a device embodying myl invention.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-.2 ofrFig. 1.

Ifig. 3 shows a' plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

.The main frame of the tractor is indicated p at 10, and at each side thereoi:1 is a self-laying track truck mechanism comprising a roller frame made in two sections 11l and 12 hinged together at 13. One or more rollers 111 is 3-5 journaled on each of these truck frame sec-A tions and the forward section carries an idler sprocket wheel 15. The rear section has journaled"up0n it the driving sprocket wheel 16, the drive shaft 17 of which is also journaled on the main frame. y

For supporting the main frame upon the truck mechanisms I provide a laminated leaf spring 18 connected at its central portion to the main frame and extending transversely thereof and pivotally connected at each end to the `adjacent truck mechanism by means of a pivot 19 carried upon a bracket 20 formed on the rear truck section. Extending vertically from the hinge bearing of each forward trucksection is an arm or bracket 21 against which presses a coiled spring 22. This coiled spring is carried in a housing 23 formed on the bracket 20 of the rear truck section. The purpose of the coiled spring is to exert a .forward pressure on the arm 2l of the front .mechanism at each side truck section whereby to maintain the latter in contact with the ground and distribute thc weight. of the vmain, frame thereon.

In the operation of the suspension mechanism shown and described the major portion ot' the 'weight of the main frame is supported by the leaf springlS and is transmitted thereby to the lpivot '19 on the rear truck sections and distributed to the forward truck sections by the spring connection 22. Any `tendency of the main frame to tilt downwardly at the front is restrained by reason of the fact that the driving sprocket wheels are connected both to the main frame and toY the roller truck frames, and thereby there is a tendency for the rear truck sections to beY raised slightly at their rear. .They are restrained in this movement by reason of the springs 22 interposed be tween the front and rear truck sections. The truck sections 4are free to move abouto their hinged connection and thereby to conform .toirregularities in thesurface' of the roadway. The main frame is cushioned on account ot the spring 18 and also the truck mechanism, as a Whole, may rock about the axis of the drive shaft 17, the spring 18, yielding to permit this.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a vehicle, a mainframe, a truck `,thereof comprising hinged roller truck sections, an idler Wheel on the front-section, a driving sprocket wheel on the rear section, said driving sprocket wheel havinga shaft journaled on the main frame and on the rear truck section, load-supporting means centrally connected to the main framehaving a single point of connection With each truck mechanism located on the rea-r truck section and spring means interposed between the4 two truck sections to distribute the load.

sections/swing, a load supporting sprng'dis- .2. In a Vehicle a main frame, a truck wu mechanism arranged on each side thereofy po ed *rrarlsvoreey of the main frame im@ cemraly Conner-.ivd aereo, he' ouer ends of said spring beng secured to the meer .f1-Heks of the sprocket rvng she', :md rxr-eens im rposer between the frontend rear seeoras @ech truck ie distribute e portion of bhe oefl ro the forward truck Seou ions.

3. En a vehicle s, mein frame, e truck mechanism arranged on each side thereof end eswh iruek comprising front ami rear Bmg Hy oormeeed seeions, an ider Wheel jourrmed on each front section, a driving sprocket whee on each rear Section, seid drw ing Sprookr- Whees being secured to a shaft 'which' i5; jomnee on the main frame and on each rear rruck sachen, sind shaft formmg a pwoe polnt about whlch the rear www@ the front and one on the rear section of each truck, and a spring interposed between the h 'zlckos to distribute n portion of the load to the forward truck sections.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto 'set my hand in the presence of two subscribing' WitnessesA ELMER E. WICKERS VVtnessee:

GLADYS SCHERMERHORN, RENE BUGBEE. 

